Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Invictus Games

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Motto
  
I AM

Headquarters
  
London, United Kingdom

First event
  
2014

Website
  
invictusgames.org

Invictus Games

The Invictus Games are an international Paralympic-style multi-sport event, created by Britain's Prince Harry, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. Named after Invictus, Latin for "unconquered" or "undefeated" the event was inspired by the Warrior Games, a similar event held in the United States. The first Invictus Games took place in 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, United Kingdom.

Contents

The 2014 opening ceremony was attended by Prince Harry, Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, and Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark. The event also included a recorded message from then–First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.

The second games opened on 8 May 2016 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World, near Orlando, Florida, United States. The opening ceremony was attended by Prince Harry, then–First Lady Michelle Obama, former American President George W. Bush and many other dignitaries. The 2017 games will be held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Then–U.S. President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth II helped make a promotional video for the 2016 event.

Launch

The Games were launched on 6 March 2014 by Prince Harry at London's Copper Box arena, used as a venue during the 2012 Olympics. Having seen a British team competing at the US Warrior Games held in Colorado in 2013, the prince wished to bring the concept of a similar international sporting event to the United Kingdom. With the backing of Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Ministry of Defence, the event was put together over ten months. £1m of funding for the project was provided by the Royal Foundation, a charity established by Prince Harry along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with an equal amount being pledged by Chancellor George Osborne from Treasury funds generated by fines imposed on banks as a result of the Libor scandal. The Games were also sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover. Speaking at the launch, the prince said that the Games would "demonstrate the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and demonstrate life beyond disability". He also said that their long-term objective was to ensure injured troops are not forgotten as Britain's involvement with the War in Afghanistan comes to an end.

Invictus Games Foundation

The Invictus Games Foundation was created as the legacy of the first-ever Invictus Games. It governs the process of the future Games. The bidding process for future games started in November 2014.

Governance

The people who Govern the Foundation are:

  • Patron: HRH Prince Harry KCVO
  • Chairman: Sir Keith Mills GBE

    • Trustees

  • David Henson (British Team Captain of the 2014 Invictus Games)
  • Debbie Jevans CBE (formerly Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Organising committee member Invictus Games 2014)
  • Edward Lane Fox (Private Secretary of Prince Harry)
  • Terry Miller (general counsel for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games; Organising committee member Invictus Games 2014)
  • Guy Monson (Trustees, The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry)
  • Mary Reilly ( also on the Board of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, organising committee member of Invictus Games 2014)

    • Staff:

  • Managing Director: Dominic Reid OBE (was responsible for the operational delivery of the Invictus Games London 2014)
  • Operations Manager: Rose Hall (organising team for the Invictus Games London 2014.)

    • Ambassador

    Lewis Hamilton appointed as first ambassador.

  • Hamilton visited Tedworth House, before the announcement
  • 3 July 2015, Lewis invited some Invictus Games athletes to British Grand Prix.

    • 2014 Invictus Games

    The first Invictus Games were held on 10–14 September 2014. Around 300 competitors from 13 countries which have fought alongside the United Kingdom in recent military campaigns participated. These included the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand and Afghanistan. Competitive events were held at many of the venues used during the 2012 Olympics, including the Copper Box and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre. The Games were broadcast by the BBC.

    Organising committee

  • President: HRH Prince Harry KCVO
  • Chairman: Sir Keith Mills GBE (former deputy chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
  • Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory CB (represents Defence on the Invictus Games Board)
  • General Sir Nick Parker KCB CBE (was in charge with organising the military support provided by the Armed Forces during the London 2012 Games)
  • Sara Donaldson OBE (was chief operating officer of the Production Company for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies)
  • Edward Lane Fox (private secretary of HRH Prince Harry)
  • Debbie Jevans CBE (formerly Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games)
  • Terry Miller OBE (was general counsel for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
  • Guy Monson (trustee of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry)
  • Roger Mosey (was the BBC's Director of London 2012 Olympic Games coverage and former BBC editorial director)
  • Mary Reilly (was also on the Board of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games)
  • Chris Townsend OBE (was Commercial Director for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games)
  • Sir Nathan Murray (was in charge of organising the arenas for the games to take place)

    • Invited countries

    14 countries were invited to the 2014 games, 8 from Europe, 2 from Asia, 2 from North America and 2 from Oceania. No countries from Africa were invited. There were teams from all the invited countries, except Iraq, competing in the games.

    Sporting events

    Athletics (aka track & field), Archery, Indoor rowing, Powerlifting, Road cycling, Sitting volleyball, Swimming, Wheelchair basketball and Wheelchair rugby. The presenting partner Jaguar Land Rover also organised a driving challenge.

    References

    Invictus Games Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA